As originally seen on the Tampa General Hospital News Center website It was scary enough for Letitia Browne-James’ parents to witness their child’s epileptic seizures. But they were also frightened when a doctor suggested brain surgery for their 12-year-old. “My parents said ‘no way,’” Browne-James said. “It was a very scary thought.” They tried medications,… Continue reading A bold choice to fight epilepsy
Category: Epilepsy
Taking control: from PatientsLikeMe member Letitia and our friends at the Partnership to Improve Patient Care
Many of you have already met Letitia. She’s part of the PatientsLikeMe epilepsy community, and from her Patient Voice video to Twitter (@Pulchritude81), she continues to be a rockstar when it comes to sharing her experiences and advocating for patient centered research. Her latest efforts focused on patient empowerment where she headlined a webinar with our friends at… Continue reading Taking control: from PatientsLikeMe member Letitia and our friends at the Partnership to Improve Patient Care
Epilepsy “Rescue Medication” Survey results are in
PatientsLikeMe recently partnered with Acorda® Therapeutics to research how epilepsy patients respond to seizures using rescue medications, and we’re happy to announce that the results are in. Rescue meds are a type of medication used once a seizure starts to help end it faster or prevent further seizures. Has there been any 24-hour period in… Continue reading Epilepsy “Rescue Medication” Survey results are in
Coping with Changes in Physical Appearance
When you are diagnosed with a life-changing illness, your doctor may prepare you for how the disease will affect your physical functions. But as our members point out, patients also need to be prepared for the changes in physical appearance they may experience. For example, how do you deal with hair loss, facial swelling, weight… Continue reading Coping with Changes in Physical Appearance
New Efforts Underway to Improve Care for Veterans
With financial support from UCB, the Department of Veterans Affairs and PatientsLikeMe will study patient-reported outcomes. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Jan 22, 2013 — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (ECoE), biopharmaceutical company UCB and health data-sharing website PatientsLikeMe announce a new study to better understand what factors improve health outcomes for veterans with… Continue reading New Efforts Underway to Improve Care for Veterans
A Patient Poem for the Modern Age
Can you be friends with someone you’ve never met in person? The members of our online health community – now 300, 000+ patients strong – think so. In fact, many of them say they depend on other members for support and encouragement, and for the all-important reminder that they are not alone. As evidence, here… Continue reading A Patient Poem for the Modern Age
Not Recognizing the “New Me”
For many newly diagnosed patients, accepting help can be as difficult as accepting the diagnosis itself. According to some of the members of our Parkinson’s disease community, here are a few signs that you may be struggling with the idea of becoming someone who might need help. Have you found yourself feeling resentful when family,… Continue reading Not Recognizing the “New Me”
The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Graham Steel is a longtime “Guest Researcher Member” of PatientsLikeMe. Following the death of his brother Richard at the age of 33 from a rare condition known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), Graham became involved in patient advocacy work, and most recently, in lobbying for open access to published scientific… Continue reading The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
Open Access for All: PatientsLikeMe’s Epilepsy Survey Results Now Published
Last April, we had the honor of presenting the results of our epilepsy survey at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting. In some of the key takeaways, we shared that 55% of respondents consider PatientsLikeMe “moderately or very” helpful in learning about the type of seizures they experience. 45% found it useful for… Continue reading Open Access for All: PatientsLikeMe’s Epilepsy Survey Results Now Published
Coping with Holiday Stress and Blues
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or is it? The holidays can be a time of merriment and joy marked by festive parties and family reunions. But they can also be quite challenging. Despite the great cheer advertised everywhere you look, some people find themselves struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and/or depression. This… Continue reading Coping with Holiday Stress and Blues